Disgruntled Steinmetz walks out on team

Paul Steinmetz says he just wants to play rugby. But he knows he may now have to go to court to achieve that.

Steinmetz yesterday confirmed that he withdrew from the Wellington team for their NPC first-division match against Otago tomorrow night because he had resigned from his contract with the Wellington union on Monday citing a breach of contract.

New Zealand Rugby Football Union general manager of rugby Steve Tew also confirmed that Steinmetz lodged transfer documents with the NZRFU before the October 16 deadline, seeking a transfer to Otago.

The transfer would normally be processed on November 15, but the documents are incomplete because Wellington have not signed them.

Steinmetz wants to shift to Otago and play for the Highlanders in the Super 12 because All Black second five-eighths Pita Alatini is moving from Dunedin to Wellington to be with his wife, Megan, who works for the Avalon-based television company Cloud 9.

However, the Wellington union denies any breach of contract and is determined to enforce Steinmetz' contract, which he signed last year and expires at the end of 2003.

"If you start letting players go, who's next? What will happen with other contracted players around the country?" Wellington chief executive Malcolm Holmes said.

Steinmetz said he "just wants to play rugby, that's all, full stop."

"It was a difficult decision, withdrawing from the team, because I didn't want to let the boys down.

"I can't really say any more [because of the expected court action]."

Steinmetz failed to turn up for Wellington training on Wednesday night.

He has been replaced by Jason O'Halloran, who will be playing his last match for Wellington before going overseas.

Wellington coach Dave Rennie said Steinmetz' behaviour had upset some players, but Steinmetz, 24, said those who knew the full story supported him.

He said he had taken it hard when he learned Alatini was moving to Wellington because he had already served a lengthy apprenticeship behind Alama Ieremia and O'Halloran.

Having broken into the Hurricanes starting XV at O'Halloran's expense during this year's Super 12, Steinmetz did not want to be a permanent reserve again.

Otago are ready to welcome Steinmetz with open arms.

"We would love to have him," Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive John Hornbrook said.

"With Pita leaving here, we are in the market for a replacement in the calibre of Paul, who we regard as among the best second five-eighths in the country.

"We will certainly be leaving a position open for him in the Highlanders."

Hornbrook confirmed that he had been talking to Steinmetz' manager, Dave Monrey, and Holmes, but conceded that little progress had been made.

Steinmetz has enlisted the services of Queen's Counsel Colin Carruthers and central to whatever legal action does follow could be the termination clauses Steinmetz has in his contract with Wellington.

They may also argue that Steinmetz' position has materially changed by Alatini's transfer and that, under the Employment Contracts Act, he should have been consulted before that change.

However, Steinmetz was ranked behind O'Halloran and Tana Umaga - and possibly Ieremia - when he signed the contract last year, so Wellington could ask what has changed.

- NZPA